Krsna is the embodiment of love and affection. He sees the good qualities of a living entity, overlooking the bad. Even if someone is in a lowly position Krsna is so kind that He can raise him to the topmost position, even up to Krsnaloka.

Every year Sri Krsna Janmastami is celebrated by millions of people all over the world. Krsna descends to give pleasure to His devotees and uphold religiousness.

The ISKCON Canberra temple celebrated with grand style in a prestigious function hall near our centre. An estimated 500 guests and devotees attended an evening of kirtan, drama, dance, abhiseka and arati.

The idea for “Sadhu Sanga Sunday” was conveyed by HH Mukunda Maharaja to Pratapana as a follow up to the Sydney Opera House program.

It was held at the Arts Centre in Darlinghurst that was decades ago a local prison. Of course, now it is renovated to a beautiful venue.

The day went very well with special guests, HH Mukunda Maharaja, Bhakti Caru Maharaja, Syamsundara das, Malati dasi and I sitting on stage sharing remembrances of past association with Srila Prabhupada.

Balarama Jayanti celebrates the appearance day of Lord Balarama, the elder brother of Lord Krishna.

Lord Balarama was born as the seventh son of Devaki and Vasudeva. After Kamsa had killed all the children of his sister Devaki, an unborn Balarama was transferred to the womb of Rohini, another wife of Vasudeva. Balarama was thus born as the son of Rohini.

All over the world special functions and prayers are offered to the Lord on this day. Lord Balarama symbolises spiritual strength and pleasure.

The Jhulan Festival is celebrated in July – August commemorating the pastimes of Lord Sri Krishna enjoying His childhood pastimes with His friends – the young cowherd boys and girls, swinging underneath the trees.

It is a festival to celebrate Radha Krishna’s pastime of swinging on a golden swing every day until Balarama-purnima.

All over the world the devotees enjoy coming to the temple or swinging Their Lordships in their own homes.

One of the main attractions of the Ananda Mela in Seattle was the “Vedic Village” section.

A ten metre long diorama was erected showing the descent of the Ganga from the toe of the Lord, through the Himalayas, through various holy places like Hrsikesa, and finally going out into the ocean at Ganga Sagara.

Other parts of the village included a pen for two of our cows, roti making using traditional clay and cow dung oven, produce from our farm etc.